Our purpose on earth is not to get lost in the dark but to be a light to others so they may find a way through us. Good people give you happiness, bad ones give you experience, the nasty ones give you a lesson and the best ones give you memories.
I was a shy person. However everything changed when I went to a Dale Carnegie seminar over forty-five years ago. It was a fourteen week course of learning and excitement. The course taught a series of life lessons taken from Dale Carnegie’s landmark book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People.”
This book proved to be a guiding light into my personal world and the business world. The lessons challenged me to be better and to be a light to the people around me. This book was challenging and life affirming. I read the book many times.
I lived a better life through the messages in the book and replayed many of the activities and exercises that helped solidify the experience. I kept it within arm’s reach and was able to refer to it many times. It changed my life.
It’s a classic expression of reaching out and getting in front of life. Be the first to shake a hand or give a greeting. Be a light to someone in the world.

No More Muttering! Open the Shutters & Get Rid of the Clutter!Spring has arrived and it’s the perfect time to clear the clutter! A Clutter clearing ceremony begins with your closets. No need to hold on to items that you haven’t worn since last century. It’s time to sell, donate, or discard – Do it now! There are many agencies that will accept donations so no need to keep holding on. It’s best to create new memories with REAL people. Objects are reminders but its best to be actively engaged in forging new relationships and refreshing old ones. Don’t be a product of your age. You won’t need it again. Don’t make it the problem of your heirs to clear out the house. Give it to them now so they can enjoy the items. If you have special items jewelry or mementos share it with them now while your eyes are open- give it to them so you can still see their smiles.

Tough Talk
Why are all of you saying terrible things about your neighbors, friends and relatives? If you can’t say something good, refuse to say anything. Be kind, be caring, and be nice.
How many more years do we all have in this world? Why spend time, energy, wasting our years on such stupidity as being cruel to people. Stop Look & Listen to people and stop prejudging. People would want to be in your company if you are agreeable and take the time to hear their opinions. We are products of our biases. We learn to be prejudicial and we then judge people by their disadvantages and we in turn can hurt, harm, & damage people. Are we just a bunch of senior bullies?
Stop prejudging people …start now. Establish a new you. Do not be a spreader of stupidity about anyone. Do you know why people are the way they are? Perhaps they are bored, lost in their own dilemmas, ill, very unhappy, only thinking about themselves, not about the other person’s feelings. Gossiping is wrong. Take time to think about what you are doing to another human being. Do not add any more stress in their lives.
Live to begin again, love all you can, learn more about yourself..
Spread the joy of living, loving & learning
Leave it to Loretta
Word press

AS A GRANDMOTHER and Octogenarian I was very saddened and outraged by the killings in Florida of such beautiful children and teachers. Why did this happen and how can we as seniors and grandparents help to prevent this from ever happening again?
Have we taken too much of a backseat in the lives of our families? Are our own aches and pains taking precedence over being engaged in the welfare of our loved ones. At the very least we should make ourselves available to listen and coach. We are not too old to make a phone call, send a text or visit and take action when we know there is a problem. Reach out and be accessible.
We are all able to contribute encouraging words –We are not too old to be heard. Love is not limited by age. The love that caring seniors extend is usually non-judgmental and rich with understanding and experiences.
Many of us have run to warmer climates to hide and disengage but it does leave a gap in family continuity and traditions. Don’t go running to a warmer climate until the chill is gone from your own backyard. Take the time and effort to learn what your family is doing, what are their expectations and dreams and how do they spend their time. Become more than the occasional phone call and the sporadic birthday greeting. Let your family and friends know that they can count on you to listen and to be attentive to them. Create new traditions with younger family members that move them from behind the computer screens and into learning a new craft, cooking, repairing or just taking a walk. Children love to learn and have new experiences. By sharing life affirming activities you demonstrate that you care about the person and want to spend time with them which is certainly more important than money in a greeting card.
Many of the perpetrators of the recent horrific crimes have been people that appear to be lost without stability with no regular reminders that they are valued and loved. Please do your utmost to be active and engaged in the mental health and stability of your family. It’s no time to hide get involved in solutions.
A recent story on TED Talks featured Dixon Chibanda. He is one of twelve psychiatrists in Zimbabwe for a population of sixteen million. Since he is unable to effectively treat the huge population without assistance he and his colleagues have developed a solution that is brilliant. He has trained Grandmothers as his helpers. The grandmothers sit on a “listening bench” in the village. The Grandmother who meets with the person asks the person to speak about their problems. The Grandmother listens! It is very comforting to the people who are in pain. In addition the “listening bench” is located in their neighborhood so they don’t have to travel far for a comforting word – Very often a little encouragement and taking the time to hear their problems makes a BIG DIFFERENCE! The Zimbabwe clinical trial is a success. –
see it on TED Talks-https://itunes.com/apps/tedconferences/ted
Stop hiding behind the shuffleboard court under a palm tree – start your own listening bench and make a difference that empowers future generations & helps them stabilize emotionally. They need to know that they have a friend that cares.

Loretta

AS A GRANDMOTHER and Octogenarian I was very saddened and outraged by the killings in Florida of such beautiful children and teachers. Why did this happen and how can we as seniors and grandparents help to prevent this from ever happening again? Have we taken too much of a backseat in the lives of our families? Are our own aches and pains taking precedence over being engaged in the welfare of our loved ones. At the very least we should make ourselves available to listen and coach. We are not too old to make a phone call, send a text or visit and take action when we know there is a problem. Reach out and be accessible. We are all able to contribute encouraging words –We are not too old to be heard. Love is not limited by age. The love that caring seniors extend is usually non-judgmental and rich with understanding and experiences. Many of us have run to warmer climates to hide and disengage but it does leave a gap in family continuity and traditions. Don’t go running to a warmer climate until the chill is gone from your own backyard. Take the time and effort to learn what your family is doing, what are their expectations and dreams and how do they spend their time. Become more than the occasional phone call and the sporadic birthday greeting. Let your family and friends know that they can count on you to listen and to be attentive to them. Create new traditions with younger family members that move them from behind the computer screens and into learning a new craft, cooking, repairing or just taking a walk. Children love to learn and have new experiences. By sharing life affirming activities you demonstrate that you care about the person and want to spend time with them which is certainly more important than money in a greeting card.Many of the perpetrators of the recent horrific crimes have been people that appear to be lost without stability and with no regular reminders that they are valued and loved. Please do your utmost to be active and engaged in the mental health and stability of your family. It’s no time to hide be involved.A recent story on TED Talks featured Dixon Chibanda. He is one of twelve psychiatrists in Zimbabwe for a population of sixteen million. Since he is unable to effectively treat the huge population without assistance he and his colleagues have developed a solution that is brilliant. He has trained Grandmothers as his helpers. The grandmothers sit on a “listening bench” in the village. The Grandmother who meets with the person asks the person to speak about their problems. The Grandmother listens! It is very comforting to the people who are in pain. In addition the “listening bench” is located in their neighborhood so they don’t have to travel far for a comforting word – Very often a little encouragement and taking the time to hear their problems makes a BIG DIFFERENCE! The Zimbabwe clinical trial is a success. –see it on TED Talks-https://itunes.com/apps/tedconferences/tedStop hiding behind the shuffleboard court under a palm tree – start your own listening bench and make a difference that empowers future generations & helps them stabilize emotionally. They need to know that they have a friend that cares.

Winter! SNOW, MORE SNOW AND MORE TO COME OUR WAY. Don’t let the inclement weather get you down. Stay Active.

Remember earlier times when we were younger and we concocted magic in our Kitchens on snowy afternoons to lift spirits and warm tummies.. Our Family arrived home to comfort & hugs plus chocolate chip cookies, hot chocolate or the famous Bundt cake with various icing flavors.

During inclement weather try to stay active within your home using your cane, walker or practice chair yoga. I recently completed a 7 week ” Stepping on Class”. This class helped me with my balancing, walking and improved my awareness of how to negotiate obstacles in my path. It also taught us to not look down when walking but to look ahead and aim high. A real life metaphor for daily living. The class was offered through my community center and it was a very positive experience.

With all the indor activities that we can particiapte in during the winter months let’s change the rhyme to Snow, Snow, Come Out & Play We need to dance ( indoors ) today!

What are you drinking? Is it water, is it beer, is it vodka or even a special drink? At our age there is no solution to your drinking. Why do you drink the way you do? If you are consuming and must take large amounts of prescribed medication for diabetes, heart problems, blood thinners, pain in your joints or in your back, neck, stomach etc. why hurt your body by drinking? If you are consuming more than you can handle, perhaps it’s hurting more than your body can digest.

Take control of your life!
Start to reduce your intake of drinking. Instead of saying “I need a drink” get a bottle of water. Water is good for your kidneys, brain, and spirit.

Do not drown your sorrows in a habit that’s not good for you. What you once were is not good for your health now. My dear seniors it makes a world of a difference. You should strive to be a happy person in your later years. My message is, find your happiness by living and enjoying the time you have now, as well as taking care of your body! Make pesto sauce with basil… There’s so much life to enjoy and so much living your body can do, so don’t drink!